The National tribune., 1887-03-10
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Duties Taught by Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
March 20. Gen., 3s :s-1s, 1880.

national sundays -scnOOi Lesson AppOinteu IOr
March 20. Gen., 32 :s-12, 1880.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated abOye-l
SUBJECT: JACOB AT PENIEL.
In our last lesson we studied the account Of
Jacobs first experience at Bethel. (2S: 10-22.)
We learned of his dream, stone pillow. ladder,
| the Angels. He was On way to Padan -aram,
really to escape Esau's wrath, but prOfessedly
! for the purpose of securing wife from among
| the relatives of Abraham. The date was 2224
A. NJ. Jacob, leaving Bethel, passed on to
| Mesopotama. lie soon fell in with the families
of Haran and Laban. (29: 1, 4. 81 At length
Leah. Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah become his
| wives. (Chap. % Leah was mother OF Reu-
| ben, Simeon, Levi. Judah, Issachar and Zebu-
| lun. (29: 81 80: 17-20.) Bilhah was mother
of Dan and Naphtali. (30:5-8.) Zilpah was
mother of Cad and Asher. (Vs. 10-13.) Rachel
begat Joseph. (Vs. p. %, 24.) Thus we find
Jacob with IL sons, all born in Mesopotamia.
| Years have passed, and it is no wonder he be-
gan to think of his father and his old home in
Canaan, and quite decided to take his family
and property and return. Laban, however,
made him liberal offers if he would remain in
Padan-aram, and Jacob accepted the PROPOSE
tion. Abraham's grandson prospered very
greatly, surprising in wealth even Laban. The
consequences were jealousy and trouble Then
God appeared to Jacob and directed him to go
back to Canaan. and the family Of the patriarch
fell in with the plan. Knowing Laban would
oppose the separation, Jacob saw he must set
out quietly and so escape resistance and delay.
After time Jacobs exodus was detected, and
Laban gathered some forces and resolved to
overtake the fugitives. He caught up to them
after a time and demanded from Jacob his rea-
son for leaving without taking a formal de-
parture, giving him an opportunity to bid
good-by to his daughters and grandchildren.
It was evident Jacob would not return. Then
into
lations. The spot where the interview took
place was named Jegar- sahadutha, or Called,
or Mizpeh. At length Laban's party and Ja-
cobs separated. Laban returning to Mesopota-
mia and Jacob passing on toward his home in
, Canaan.
} Conscious he is in the land Of Canaan, re-
) membering the anger of Esau, he begins to be
apprehensive. To prepare the way and to gain
! some idea Of Esau's feelings toward him, he
! sends number of his company to EdOm to in
form his brother he is coming. To make it
/. more sure he would be received kindly. he in
structs the messengers to tell Esau how pros
porous Jacob has been, how rich he is what a
large body of servants he has, etc. As soon as
. Esau hears Jacob is on way back he sets out to
= meet him with 400 men. This fact gives Jacob
2 great fear. He resolves to put on the most
J, favorable appearance and try, if possible, to
$ win the heart of Esau. First Of all he wants
to impress his brother with sense of the great
| aram. He thinks wealth will attract the mind
!. and engage the heart of Esau. Had Jacob return
ed cringing pauper, the case would have been
very different. Jacob was to become no charge
to Esau. A dignifed equipage. numerous rete-
= nue. good financial status, all these are rather
TO be sought and recognized than opposed
Jacob is far. seeing enough to utilize his knowl-
edge of human nature. When one can make a
d mere gift of that which comes to hand, (32: 13,
:, and the present can consist of $50 valuable
: animals, VS.. H. 15l the owner must be wealthy
q indeed Having done all this to gain the
i favor of his brother, Jacob feels still the need
4; of divine assistance, and so betakes himself tC
prayer. 1t was private prayer. (Y. 24.)
o We fixed the date Of Jacobs departure 222i
Il A. NJ. From 81 80, Al we find he was with
10 Laban rs an emplOye for 20 years. Then it i
It evident he was separate and independent
1t owner for some time in MesOpotamia. W.
81 generally fix the duration of Jacobs stay il
As Padan-aram at 80 years. The date of the pres
le ent lesson would then be 226l A. NJ, or 17i0 B
/. c. Isaac was loo years old; Jacob and EsaI
IS 96 Abraham had been dead 81 years.
,e The Jabbok (V. 22) was a stream about 8
II miles long. emptying from the East into tn
Of Jordan about midway between the Sea of Cali
r lee and the Dead Sea. Peniel, or Penuel, wa
j. on the north side of the Jabbol, about Is mile
,e from the Jordan. The name Peniel mean
al "the face of God" name given TO the plac
s. by Jacob in memory of his experience with tn
Angel.
The lesson is one of the night scenes of tn
Bible. Jacob prayed all night. There was
visible presence of Jehovah, a temporary ma
teralzing of Deity. Our study is report G
a kind of encounter between an incarnation
: God and Jacob.
81 We have in verses 9-12 the first prayer rt
p corded in the Bible. As such it is good mode
ie Proper Inscriptions are given to Deity. Th
n, petitioner is humble References are made
has Of ha
l5.) Thanks arc rendered for blessings alread
,et received Works are Joined to faith. Is
,@ James, 2: IL Jacob did what he could an
he sought God TO supplement-. Faith is apparen
'e- The petitioner was persistent. Hos, II: 3.
ST. Luke, IL :5-10.) The favor besought in h
prayer was a proper one to ask Of God, to wi
help in time of emergency. 1t is always gual
antee of success in prayer when one seeks al
in the line of any of Gods commands. Henc
Jacob refers to the direction given him of Go
at Padan- -aram. God had told Jacob to retur
to Canaan. (V. o. Compare 81 g. 49, 1t mu
have seemed hazardous to Jacob to go back an
face his brother. IL is always safe, however,
obey God. Then. the promise Of God tn;
Jacobs seed should be numerous rs the grain
of sand on the sea shores could not prove trJ
if Esau were suffered to slay Jacob, his son
wives, daughters We see many facts whiC
served to stimulate the patriarch to pray.
Abraham was Jacobs grandfather, and Isa;
no passed over the Jordan on way to Pada
aram was his staff. but in the intervening yea
he had been greatly prospered. Dob S:7)
1t is clear Jacob came into actual, physc
70 struggle with body representing, incarnatin
~ Deity. Jacob was in great need and dared II
3 permit the departure of the Being on who
r. promise and help hung his safety and succe:
In the contest Jacobs thigh became disjOinte
He never fully recovered, and needed aid
mo mo staff. The event was very impressive. 1t W
Viii important for Jacobs sake, and for the good
,di- the Church, that the events of that mig
should become historic and kept in mind.
nit Not only was the night made memorable
itn Iin Jacob by his physical deformity, but also
her the change of his name. (V. %; 80: 10; 2 X
~ II: 81 The word Jacob means a supplant
ltOr deceiver. 1t was well applied TO him Is bel
- n shrewd, crafty person. This feature is mark
Las in him. But having shown such faith in G'
M such determination to secure divine favor a
G., help, such distrust in his own powers, such
18th fusal to be denied, it was fitting his name me
bert correspond with his new character. So he
No named Israel, which word means Prince
God, one having power with God. Hos, II
A. Ills prayer was answered. He was asSul
help for the coming arrival of Esau.
g Of Jacob had power with God but that was
etc. all he had power with men. Notice his
fiuence on Esau. t25: 81 SEQ how he man
-th- uated matters with Laban. go 25-43.)
om- call his skill in securing IsraePs blessi
With (27 33.) He had a keen knowledge of hum
I,I' ,ne nature. He Was sharp, cunning underhand